xv, 446 pages, 6 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, portraits ; 25 cm
Contents
Prologue -- Part I. Van Diemen's Land 1847-1855 -- Part II. New South Wales 1855-1861 -- Epilogue -- New South Wales Ministries (1856-1861) -- Secretaries of State for the Colonies (1847-1861)
Summary
"Aristocrat by birth, autocrat by nature, and Royal Engineer by training, Sir William Denison became a governor of Australia in the mid 19th century at a time of momentous change. Arriving in Tasmania in 1847, he provided strong and controversial leadership while debate on convict transportation raged. His support for its continuance (he had the convicts doing valuable public work) caused a furore amongst the free community and unwillingly he had to yield. The Colonial Office in London was impressed and promoted him 'Governor-General' of New South Wales in 1855. There, his tenure co-incided with the start of Responsible Government (1856), a concept he despised, and which he did his best to subvert. His battles with the new parliamentarians were fierce if ultimately unavailing, but again his conduct found favour with the Imperial Government who promoted him to Governor of the Presidency of Madras (and, for an important period, Acting Viceroy of India). Sir William Denison concluded his service to the Crown in 1866 and is remembered as one who 'stod among the first class of Governors'."--Cover gate fold
Analysis
Australian
Notes
"Based on an unfinished work by the late Dr C.H. Currey, foreword Rodney Cavalier."--t.p
